October 2015

Toyota and Lexus celebrate 15 years of hybrids and Hollywood

(October 23, 2015) TORRANCE, Calif. — Fifteen years ago, Toyota launched a hybrid no one had heard of — the Prius. Shortly after launch, the Environmental Media Association (EMA) and Toyota connected to help bring the hybrid to Hollywood. It was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
 
On Saturday (Oct. 24) Toyota and Lexus will celebrate 15 years of partnership with EMA, and the 15th anniversary of the Prius, at the 25rd annual Environmental Media Awards at Warner Bros. Studios in Burbank.  The all-new 2016 Prius will make its Hollywood debut at the green carpet event.

GM to add second shift, 1,200 works to Hamtramck plant

(October 23, 2015) DETROIT — General Motors is nearly doubling its workforce at Detroit-Hamtramck Assembly by adding a second shift and more than 1,200 hourly and salaried jobs. The addition of a second shift will increase the plant’s workforce to approximately 2,800 people when hiring is completed.

Redesigned Mini Convertible goes on sale next March in U.S.

(October 23, 2015) — Mini USA has introduced the newest addition to its iconic product line, the new Mini Convertible. As the first open top Mini powered by BMW Group engines and architecture, the new Mini Convertible is a premium four-seater soft-top convertible that is both practical and customizable for unlimited open-air motoring fun. 

Edsel lives in the weeds

This 1959 Edsel sedan was discovered languishing among other used up vehicles in a North Carolina junkyard. The Edsel was developed as an upscale brand sandwiched between Ford and Mercury in the Ford Motor Company lineup. But it never caught on selling less than 120,000 copies in three model and was a multimillion dollar failure for Ford. (Photo by Ralph Gable)

Toyota re-creates Marty McFly's dream truck with 2016 Tacoma

(October 22, 2105) TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota is celebrating October 21, 2015 — the futuristic date first introduced in Back to the Future Part II — with a re-creation of Marty McFly’s dream truck. Using the all-new 2016 Toyota Tacoma that went on sale in September, fans in Los Angeles, New York and Dallas got to see the truck on the 21st.

Honda bringing 2016 VFR1200X to U.S.

(October 22, 2015) TORRANCE, Calif. — Reflecting the growing popularity of the adventure-touring segment, American Honda announced today that the innovative VFR1200X is coming to the U.S. for the 2016 model year. Already extremely popular in Europe, the VFR1200X receives important updates for 2016 and will now be available to American customers, joining the previously announced brand-new 2016 CRF1000L Africa Twin in Honda’s comprehensive adventure lineup.

Domino's Pizza chooses Chevrolet for next-gen delivery vehicle

(October 22, 2015) ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Domino’s announced Wednesday it has chosen the 2015 Chevrolet Spark as the basis for the company’s new Domino’s DXP (Delivery Expert), a specially designed and built pizza delivery vehicle.

The Spark will help bring Domino’s heritage of pizza delivery innovation to the streets, due in part to the vehicle’s emphasis on driver experience, nimble maneuverability and fuel economy — assets important to the modern day pizza delivery driver.

Toyota recalls 2 million vehicles for power window switch issue

(October 22, 2015) TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota has announced that it is conducting a safety recall of approximately 2 million vehicles related to the driver’s side Power Window Master Switch. The power window master switch in the involved vehicles may have been manufactured with insufficient lubricant grease. 

Toyota Land Cruiser gets new exterior, interior design features for 2016

(October 22, 2015) TORRANCE, Calif. — Toyota asks, how do you improve ultimate? The Toyota Land Cruiser has long been the brand’s ultimate-capability, ultimate-luxury SUV, and for 2016 Toyota is ratcheting up the meaning of that term. New exterior and interior design features are the obvious changes made to the Land Cruiser, while new safety technology, a major drivetrain upgrade and enhanced multimedia features make this makeover far more than metal-skin deep.

First Jeep Cherokee rolls off assembly line in China

(October 21, 2015) CHANGSHA, China — Jeep Cherokee, the first locally produced sport-utility vehicle of GAC Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, officially rolled off the assembly line Monday at the company’s Changsha plant. The newly established GAC FCA Automobiles Sales Co. will be responsible for sales of the new product.
 
Senior government officials and company leaders attended the roll-off ceremony.